PickedTech
Comparison

iPad (A16) vs iPad Air (M4)

The base iPad covers streaming, browsing, reading and notes. The iPad Air adds the M4 chip with 12GB of memory, Apple Intelligence, a fully laminated antireflective P3 display, Apple Pencil Pro support, faster USB-C and a 13-inch option. Engadget calls the Air Apple’s best overall tablet.

By PickedTech Editorial TeamLast updated Prices & specs checked Nov 2026

Disclosure: PickedTech is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or how we rank them. How we make money.

How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Choose Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) (from $449) if you mainly stream, browse and read, you want the cheapest new iPad or you don’t need Apple Intelligence. Choose Apple iPad Air 11 (M4) (from $749) if you want Apple Intelligence, you use Apple Pencil Pro or a Magic Keyboard or you want a 13-inch screen or faster USB-C.

Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026

Check Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) price (opens in a new tab)Check Apple iPad Air 11 (M4) price (opens in a new tab)

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (prices checked Nov 2026)
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)Apple iPad Air 11 (M4)
Starting price (Apple Store)$449$749 (11-inch), $949 (13-inch)
Sizes11-inch11-inch or 13-inch
ChipA16M4, 12GB unified memory
Apple IntelligenceNoYes
DisplayLiquid Retina, sRGB, 500 nitsLiquid Retina, P3, fully laminated, antireflective; 500 nits (11-inch), 600 nits (13-inch)

Our verdict: buy the $449 iPad (A16) unless you know you need one of the Air’s upgrades. It covers streaming, browsing, reading, schoolwork and notes, with 128GB of storage and the same 10-hour battery rating. Buy the iPad Air (M4), from $749, if you want Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro, the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, a laminated antireflective P3 display, Wi-Fi 7, 10Gb/s USB-C or a 13-inch screen ($949). Engadget[7] calls the Air Apple’s best overall tablet and a notable step up over the basic iPad.

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)
Apple iPad Air 11 (M4)

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) vs Apple iPad Air 11 (M4): side-by-side

iPad (A16) vs iPad Air (M4) (Apple specs and store, Engadget; checked November 2026)
iPad (A16)iPad Air (M4)
Starting price (Apple Store)$449$749 (11-inch), $949 (13-inch)
Sizes11-inch11-inch or 13-inch
ChipA16M4, 12GB unified memory
Apple IntelligenceNoYes
DisplayLiquid Retina, sRGB, 500 nitsLiquid Retina, P3, fully laminated, antireflective; 500 nits (11-inch), 600 nits (13-inch)
Apple PencilApple Pencil (USB-C), 1st generationApple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)
KeyboardMagic Keyboard FolioMagic Keyboard for iPad Air
USB-CUSB 2.0 (480Mb/s)USB 3 (10Gb/s)
BatteryUp to 10 hoursUp to 10 hours
Wi-Fi and BluetoothWi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 (Apple N1 chip)
Weight (Wi-Fi)477 g464 g (11-inch), 616 g (13-inch)
UnlockTouch ID in top buttonTouch ID in top button

How much do they cost?

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) plans

iPad (A16) Wi-Fi (Apple Store, checked November 2026)
StorageWi-FiWi-Fi + Cellular
128GB$449$599
256GB$549$699
512GB$749$899

Apple iPad Air 11 (M4) plans

iPad Air (M4) 11-inch (Apple Store, checked November 2026)
StorageWi-FiNote
128GB$74911-inch
256GB$84911-inch
512GB$1,04911-inch
1TB$1,34911-inch
13-inchFrom $949Wi-Fi, 128GB

What are the pros and cons?

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16): pros

  • $300 cheaper
  • Same 10-hour battery life
  • 128GB base storage
  • Landscape 12MP Center Stage front camera

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16): cons

  • No Apple Intelligence
  • No Apple Pencil Pro support
  • sRGB display that isn’t laminated or antireflective
  • USB 2.0 port (480Mb/s) and Wi-Fi 6

Apple iPad Air 11 (M4): pros

  • Powerful M4 chip with 12GB memory (Engadget)
  • Apple Intelligence
  • Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard support
  • 13-inch option

Apple iPad Air 11 (M4): cons

  • $749 starting price, $300 more than the iPad
  • Same display design since 2020 (Engadget)
  • No Face ID or ProMotion
  • Gets expensive quickly with accessories (Engadget)

Which should you choose: Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) or Apple iPad Air 11 (M4)?

Verdict: the $449 iPad is the right iPad for most people who stream, browse, read and do schoolwork. The iPad Air is worth the extra $300 if you’ll use Apple Intelligence, draw or take notes with Apple Pencil Pro, type on a Magic Keyboard often, edit photos or video, move big files over USB-C, or want a 13-inch screen. Engadget[7] says the M4 Air has a more powerful processor, more memory, a better display and superior accessories, and that the Air line is the only way to get a 13-inch iPad without spending $1,300 or more.

Choose Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) if…

  • You mainly stream, browse and read
  • You want the cheapest new iPad
  • You don’t need Apple Intelligence
Check Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) price (opens in a new tab)

Choose Apple iPad Air 11 (M4) if…

  • You want Apple Intelligence
  • You use Apple Pencil Pro or a Magic Keyboard
  • You want a 13-inch screen or faster USB-C
Check Apple iPad Air 11 (M4) price (opens in a new tab)

Pricing compared

Apple’s US store lists the iPad (A16) at $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) and $749 (512GB); cellular adds $150. The iPad Air (M4) 11-inch is $749 (128GB), $849 (256GB), $1,049 (512GB) and $1,349 (1TB), and the 13-inch starts at $949 (prices checked November 2026). When Apple announced the M4 Air in March 2026 it quoted $599 and $799; Apple’s store now lists $749 and $949, so the gap to the base iPad is $300. Retailer prices often run lower, so check before you buy.

Chip and Apple Intelligence

The iPad Air’s M4 has an 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU with hardware ray tracing and 12GB of unified memory, 50 percent more than the previous Air. Apple says it’s up to 30 percent faster than the M3 iPad Air. Apple’s compare and store pages list Apple Intelligence and Siri AI on the iPad Air and not on the A16 iPad. Engadget[7] measured a 39 percent higher Geekbench 6 GPU score than the M3 and got seven to eight hours of battery life using the Air as a main all-day machine, short of Apple’s 10-hour rating.

Display and accessories

Both 11-inch screens are 2360-by-1640 at 264 ppi and 500 nits, and neither has ProMotion. The Air’s is fully laminated with an antireflective coating and P3 wide color; the iPad’s is sRGB without those. The 13-inch Air reaches 600 nits. The Air supports Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air. The iPad supports Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st generation, with an adapter) and the Magic Keyboard Folio.

Ports and wireless

Apple’s spec pages list USB 2.0 (up to 480Mb/s) on the iPad and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) on the Air. That matters if you copy photos or video from a camera or drive. The iPad has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3; the Air’s Apple N1 chip adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Both use Touch ID in the top button and are rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video.

Who should skip this

Skip the iPad Air if you mainly watch video, browse and read: the $449 iPad does those jobs, and the $300 difference buys a keyboard case or Apple Pencil. Skip the base iPad if you want Apple Intelligence or Apple Pencil Pro, since it supports neither. Skip both if you need Face ID, ProMotion or an OLED screen; see iPad Air vs iPad Pro. If you want a smaller tablet, the iPad mini starts at $699 at Apple; see the best iPad. Android buyers should start with Galaxy Tab S10 FE vs iPad A16.

Frequently asked questions

Does the base iPad support Apple Intelligence?
No. Apple’s store and compare pages list Apple Intelligence on the iPad Air (M4), but not on the iPad (A16).
How much more is the iPad Air than the iPad?
$300 at Apple’s US store: $749 for the 11-inch iPad Air against $449 for the iPad, both with 128GB. Prices checked November 2026.
Is the iPad Air worth it over the iPad?
If you want Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro, a better display, faster USB-C or a 13-inch screen, yes. For streaming, browsing and reading, the $449 iPad is enough.
Do both have the same battery life?
Apple rates both at up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or watching video. Engadget[7] got seven to eight hours using the iPad Air as an all-day work machine.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. Apple Store: Buy iPad (checked November 2026) (apple.com)
  2. Apple Store: Shop iPad Air (checked November 2026) (apple.com)
  3. Apple: iPad 11-inch (A16) technical specifications (apple.com)
  4. Apple: iPad Air (M4) technical specifications (apple.com)
  5. Apple: Compare iPad models (apple.com)
  6. Apple Newsroom: Apple introduces the new iPad Air, powered by M4 (apple.com)
  7. Engadget: iPad Air M4 review (engadget.com)
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